Masterclasses

Masterclasses at #SMEX18 will give attendees the chance to create their own personal multi-media training day. Lead by top experts who will share their insight and knowledge.

Dipping Your Toe into the Live-Stream

Interactive

It’s been likened to having a tv station in your pocket! Live-streaming video through Facebook and Twitter lets you connect with your volunteers and donors for free. By showing the impact that their support is making right now, you are being honest and authentic. And as Facebook Live videos are watched 3 times longer and commented on ten times more often than regular videos – which adds to their shareability – you’ll be raising your profile and possibly your funds as well. All without a truck of tech! BBC digital producer, and author of The Live-Streaming Handbook, Peter Stewart will enthuse you to use your mobile phone to better connect and explain your charity’s message.

What you’ll get out of it:

An understanding of live-streaming and how it can be of value to charities.

Peter will share successful content ideas from groups around the world that you can adopt or adapt.

A whistle-stop tour of how to S.T.A.R.T live-streaming: developing your Strategy, the Tech to use, why Audio is so important, the Rights and laws to consider when going live and how to Test your concept.

Please note: this session is an introduction to live-streaming presentation and production and will not be full of scary technical jargon. Peter will be focussing on Facebook Live (and Twitter/Periscope). References will be made to iPhones, but both apps are available on Android devices.

Harnessing social media

...to tell your charity's story

Practical / Interactive

How can you amplify your charities stories using social media? We’ll will demonstrate the digital tools used and ideas that can be applied to organisations of all sizes. You’ll leave this session confident about how to amplify your work through social media exploring a range of digital channels to engage with new audiences.

What you’ll get out of it:

An understanding of low-cost tools which can help with storytelling on social media, including live streaming

Ideas and inspiration on how you can package your charities story for social media

Confidence in setting clear objectives for social media activity

A grasp of social media analytics and how to use them effectively.

Crowdsourcing Content

How @NHS is using their community to tell their stories

Interactive

Discover how to engage your communities and the people you support to produce great user generated content that champions authentic storytelling. NHS’s Twitter Takeovers put real people at the heart of their campaign. They’ve amplified the impact of their work by encouraging their communities to become storytellers creating and sharing powerful first-hand stories. Find out how User Generated Content can be incorporated into your organisation in this dynamic session.

What you’ll get out of it:

Be able to spot great opportunities for UGC

Be able to identify what type of ‘asks’ your audience respond to

Understand how to use simple (free!) tools to create great UGC

The Power of Sound

How can charities harness audio storytelling

Practical / Interactive

It’s surprising what you hear when you listen. Audio is an amazing storytelling technique but seems to be underused within the charity sector. So how can organisations use audio in their work and what steps do they need to get started. In this interactive and practical session we will provide tips and insights into the role audio storytelling can play in your organisation.

What you’ll get out of it:

Learn different audio storytelling techniques from vox pops to audio diaries to podcasts.

Learn interview techniques and about working with sensitive material.

Get ideas about where sound can work be used within your work.

Learn how to use your phone to gather audio stories.

Video Storytelling

Vlogging with Impact

practical and Interactive

Do you need some inspiration and fresh ideas to help you develop your organisation’s video storytelling strategy? Anyone can vlog (or video blog) if they’ve got a camera, an internet connection and something to say.
Successful vlogger and Parkinson’s campaigner, Emma Lawton will demystify vlogging – she’ll look at the power of video blogging and explore how to produce content that engages people and builds audiences. But you’ll also be up on your feet learning how to shoot vlogs so bring your tablets and smartphones.

What you’ll get out of it:

Explore what vlogging is and how it can work to engage audiences

Learn how to give your users a voice

See what makes vlogging a success – from producing content to building audiences

Get practical tips on how to vlog; how to film, where to set up your camera and what to show

Storytelling Through Photography

Tips on creative photography, shooting, storytelling and sharing

Interactive and Practical

George Olney, stories journalist at Crisis we will be sharing with us all the best aspects of shooting, editing and sharing. He’ll share insights into Crisis’ Everybody In campaign as an attempt to challenge negative perceptions of homeless people, looking at informed consent and how capture a person’s story undefined by the label of ‘homeless’ (or any other label) often in challenging situations. He’ll look at how photography and the written word can be used to share powerful, authentic stories.

What you’ll get out of it:

Understand the importance and potential of authentic storytelling through photography, the written word and other media.

Be more confident in using photography to tell human stories.

Tips for simple technical and behavioural techniques including the use of available light, the immediate environment, creative composition and the personality of the subject for effective portraiture.

Working with a Production Company

Demystifying the process – from both perspectives

Interactive

In this interactive workshop award-winning production company Lambent Productions will share insights into their work, how they share stories around difficult issues, gaining trust and access and consent and balancing the needs of a filmmaker with those of the case studies involved. We’ll also hear firsthand from Phoenix Futures that worked alongside them on the BBC documentary Addicted Parents to put a spotlight on their organisation and cause.

What you’ll get out of it:

Learn what makes a good story on TV

Understand how documentary makers work with charities and how these relationships work.

Learn what access really means for charities, how does it work if you open your doors?

Understand what it means for the people in the films in terms of care and safeguarding.

You will leave with more confidence about working with a production company on your stories.

Crowdfunding for your Cause

Come in for funding, leave with so much more.

Interactive

Crowdfunding is creating social, economic and community-led impacts across the UK – not only by enabling people, communities, charities and businesses to raise funds, but by raising awareness, support and unlocking extra funding for making great ideas a reality. This session lead by Jason Nuttall, Crowfunder.co.uk will introduce rewards-based crowdfunding, using recent examples and interactive exercises to give you the confidence to give it a try.

What you’ll get out of it:

Learn what makes a successful crowdfunding campaign

Have a better understanding of rewards-based crowdfunding

Explore some of the techniques which underpin running a successful crowdfunding campaign.

Giving a Voice to the People you Support

Amplify your organisation's impact through firsthand storytelling

Interactive

Nothing will show your organisation’s impact more powerfully than the authentic, well-told stories of the people you support. But how can you work together to build trust and nurture firsthand storytellers to make a real impact? What are the most effective digital channels to use? Come to this workshop to find out how to harness the power of storytelling for your cause, and give the people you are there to support a platform to tell their stories.
Hear firsthand from people who are using their experiences to change perceptions in the media and wider systems within society.

What you’ll get out of it:

Discover how a range of charities of all sizes are telling authentic stories by giving a platform to the people they support

Explore the barriers that charities might face to working in the way and get solutions

Top tips to getting started

Share ideas and experiences with other SMEX17 delegates

Getting to Grips with Immersive Storytelling

Interactive

VR and 360 video are fast emerging as exciting yet realistic formats to communicate with your audience. It’s now not uncommon for 360 videos hosted on Facebook and YouTube to achieve millions of views. This type of media can be a great driver for good – it can build empathy, draw new audiences and even help raise funds. In this session, we will help organisations explore the opportunities that 360 can bring, demonstrate successful case studies, and give top tips for what makes a great 360 concept.

What you’ll get out of it:

An introduction to immersive experiences

An understanding of the VR/360 video landscape and how it can be of value to charities & other organisations